Color selection and usage mark the keystones of any design. The visual harmony and general “feeling” prompted in the user can either be successful - or fail completely – depending largely on which colors are used where. Following is an introduction to basic color theory – a color “cheat-sheet” if you will - referencing how said theory is applicable to any visual design.
Color Vocabulary
| Primary: | Red, yellow and blue |
| Secondary: | Green, orange and purple |
| Tertiary: | Blue-green, blue-purple, red-purple, red-orange, yellow-orange, and yellow-green |
| Neutral: | equal parts of each of the primary colors (i.e. gray) |
| Intermediate: | Intermediate Colors: |
| Analogous: | any three colors side by side on a 12-part color wheel |
| Complimentary: | any two colors directly opposite each other on said color wheel |
| Triad: | Three colors equidistant from one another on the color wheel |
Color Meaning
| RED: | hot, passionate, danger, optimistic |
| BLUE: | responsible, trust, compassion, integrity |
| YELLOW: | Warm, energy, optimism, and happiness |
| GREEN: | nature, harmony,cheerful, lively, health |
| ORANGE: | creative, fun, confident, sociable |
| PURPLE: | Royal, beauty, sophistication, wealth |
| GRAY: | Neutral, intermediate, somber, mature |
| *BLACK: | power, elegance, sophistication, and depth |
| *WHITE: | purity and innocence, cleanliness |
